Overtaking Terms and Rules

Italian vocabulary and phrases related to overtaking rules (sorpasso) extracted from lecture notes.

sorpasso

Overtaking.

sorpassare

To overtake / to pass another vehicle.

veicolo che sorpassa

The vehicle that overtakes.

veicolo da sorpassare

Vehicle to be overtaken; the vehicle in front.

veicolo che viene sorpassato

Vehicle that is being overtaken.

conducente del veicolo da sorpassare

Driver of the vehicle to be overtaken.

conducente che viene sorpassato

Driver who is being overtaken.

aumenta in relazione a

Increases in relation to / depending on.

deve accertarsi

Must make sure / must check carefully.

accertarsi

To make sure / to check carefully.

compiersi

To be completed.

intralcio

Obstruction / hindrance / blocking traffic.

accodandosi

By queuing / by joining the line behind other vehicles.

salvagente

Traffic island / pedestrian refuge island.

nevica

It is snowing.

carreggiata

Carriageway; part of the road where vehicles circulate.

corsia

Lane.

corsia per senso di marcia

One lane for each direction of travel.

senso di marcia

Direction of travel.

lato riservato all’altro senso di marcia

Side/lane reserved for the opposite direction of travel.

opposta semicarreggiata

Opposite half of the carriageway.

striscia continua semplice o doppia

Single or double solid line.

valicare la striscia

To cross the road line.

segnale verticale

Vertical road sign; sign placed on a pole or panel.

azionare l’indicatore

To activate the turn signal / indicator.

azionare

To activate / switch on / operate.

lampeggio

Flashing / light flash.

lampeggi

Flashes / flashing lights.

lampeggio simultaneo di tutte le frecce

Hazard lights; all indicators flashing together.

evitare sorpassi in scia

Avoid overtaking by blindly following another vehicle that is overtaking.

avviene un incidente

An accident happens / occurs.

compromette

Compromises / puts at risk.

dossi

Hill crests / humps where visibility may be limited.

in corrispondenza dei dossi

At or near hill crests.

consentire l’attraversamento

To allow crossing, usually for pedestrians.

attraversamento

Crossing; pedestrian/cycle/road crossing.

strettamente

Strictly / only as much as necessary.

accostare

To move close to the side of the road / pull over slightly.

ostacolare

To obstruct / hinder.

ostacolarne

To obstruct it / hinder it. The ending '-ne' refers to something already mentioned, often the manoeuvre.

discesa a forte pendenza

Steep downhill road.

urtare

To hit / collide with.

piazzola di sosta

Lay-by / stopping area at the side of the road.

agevolare

To facilitate / help.

gareggiare in velocità

To race / compete in speed.

passaggio a livello senza barriere

Railway level crossing without barriers.

passi carrabili

Driveways / entrances for vehicles to private property.

in corrispondenza delle intersezioni

At or near intersections.

non si invade il lato riservato al senso opposto

One does not enter the lane/side reserved for oncoming traffic.

sgombra

Clear / free from obstacles or traffic.

tenuto a evitare

Required / obliged to avoid.

stringere

To squeeze / move too close laterally.

tagliare

To cut off.

precedono

They precede / they are in front.

improvviso spostamento sulla corsia

Sudden movement into the lane.

È obbligatorio accertarsi prima di effettuare il sorpasso che non vi siano segnali che lo vietino

It is mandatory to check before overtaking that there are no signs prohibiting it.

sorpasso in scia

Overtaking by following immediately behind another overtaking vehicle, without an independent safety check.